Vibratory massager

ABSTRACT

A vibratory massage device having a mounting system including a bracket for engagement with a door frame and with a flexible interconnection between the bracket and vibratory element.

United States Patent Feather Nov. 25, 1975 VIBRATORY MASSAGER 1,837,531 12/1931 Cole 128/63 Invemor: J ve H293 e r g 1,837,532 12/1931 Cole Drive, Oakland, Calif. 94604 Filed: Feb. 1973 Primary Exammer-Lawrence W. Trapp Appl. No.1 331,086

US. Cl. 128/63 Int. C1. A6111 7/00 Field of Search 128/32, 41, 63, 24.1, 24.2

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1931 De Remer 128/63 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bruce & McCoy A vibratory massage device having a mounting system including a bracket for engagement with a door frame and with a flexible interconnection between the bracket and vibratory element.

ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov.25, 1975 Sheet10f3 3,921,625

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet2of3 3,921,625

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,921,625

VIBRATORY MASSAGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to vibratory belt massagers and, more particularly, to a vibratory massager especially adapted for convenient mounting in connection with a door structure during use.

2. Description of the Prior Art Vibratory belt massagers used heretofore have generally taken the form of relatively heavy and massive pedestal mounted units or in some form adapted for gymnasium or other such use. Due to the bulk and weight of such units they cannot easily be employed as in a home or other relatively cramped quarters so that the potential benefits of using such a device are not conveniently available for wide spread use. In the past the necessity for using a relatively massive construction has been dictated by the rather severe mechanical loads exerted in the device during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a vibratory belt massager having a bracket mounting member which has one end adapted to be disposed between a partially open door panel and door frame and which is secured in place by closing the door. The other end of the bracket is slotted to receive a suspensory link.

The vibratory motor assembly includes an electrical motor disposed within a housing and with rotatable motor shafts projecting from each end. The motor housing is provided with a supensory slot. An S-link member connects the slotted end of the bracket and motor housing slot to pivotally support the vibratory assembly thereby. Pulleys with eccentric crank pins are secured to the motor shaft ends. Coupling hook connector means are rotatably mounted on the pulley crank pins of the vibratory assembly, and a flexible belt massage element engages the coupling hook connectors at each end.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an important object of the invention to provide a vibratory belt massager which can simply and removably mounted without the use of massive pedestal or other included structure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vibratory belt massager including a bracket mounting member which can be securely engaged at one end between a door panel and door frame and with a flexible link means suspending a vibratory motor means from the other end of the bracket to provide for effective operation of the device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vibratory massager which can be easily positioned at varying heights with respect to the user to provide more effective massage for the various parts of the body: The lower height for ankles, calves, and thighs; medium height for waist, abdomen, and hips; higher level for arms, and upper back; and at the highest level, above the head, the device works as a neck and facial massager.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a small, lightweight, and therefore portable vibratory massager which can be carried in a briefcase or overnight bag or stored in a desk or bureau drawer.

LII

And it is yet a further object of the invention to provide a vibratory belt massager in which wire hook connectors are used to connect a massage belt to eccentric crank pulleys of a motor means therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door structure with the mounting bracket of the invention inserted between the open door panel and hinged door jamb side thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door structure of FIG. 1 with the panel in closed position and with the belt massager of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 3 is a vertical side elevation of the vibratory motor assembly of the belt massager of the present invention; i

FIG. 4 is a vertical end view of the vibratory motor assembly of the belt massager of the present invention as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the S-hook coupling means of the belt massager of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the S-hook coupling of the mounting means of the belt massager of FIGS. 3 and 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the coupling hook means of the belt massager of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the coupling hook means of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a left side elevational view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a bottom edge view of the mounting bracket of FIGS. 1 and 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is a vibratory belt massager device which can be conveniently mounted by means of a bracket having one end disposed between a door panel and the door frame of a door structure. The vibratory motor assembly portion of the device is suspended from the other projecting end of the mounting bracket.

The mounting bracket 11 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 as used with a typical door structure including a door panel 12 and frame 13 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The door may be either right or left hand opening with the panel pivotally hung as by means of hinges 14. The bracket 11 preferably is molded from rigid polycarbonate resin (lexan) and has a tapered web plate portion 16 with a narrow integral flange portion 17 projecting sidewise from the broader end of web 16. A suspension attachment plate 18 is formed integrally perpendicular to the narrow end of web plate 16 with reinforcing ribs 19 provided on each side to increase rigidity and strength. End areas of plate 18 which project edgewise from the narrow end of web plate 16 have upper and lower slots 21 running transversely to the web plate 16. With such a construction the narrow flange portion 17 of the bracket 11 may be inserted through the crack between door panel 21 and door jamb member 22 at the hinged side of the partially open door structure as shown in FIG. 1. When the door panel is then closed as shown in FIG. 2, the broader end of the bracket is anchored securely between the door panel and jamb 22. Moreover, the flange l7 bears on the door panel as well as being clamped between the door panel and a molding strip (not shown) which are generally provided in conventional door structures.

The vibratory motor assembly 26 as'shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing includes an electrical motor 27 having axially projecting shafts 28. A motor housing is formed as a molded pair of half-shells 31 of, for example, high impact polystyrene resin. The motor 27 is mounted therein with the shafts projecting through axial openings over which are disposed housing hub caps 32 with the assembly retained by means of elongated machine screws 33. As appliance cord and switch (not shown) may be used to supply power to the motor.

In the preferred embodiment, the whole unit weighs only 6 pounds. As a result it is an extremely portable unit as compared with heretofore available belt massagers.

Reinforcing ribs 34 are formed on the housing shells 31 which meet in mating relation at the equatorial joint between the housing shells. Mating notches in the abutting ends of ribs 34 define a lattitudinal suspensory mounting slot 36 therein.

With the foregoing structure the motor assembly is suspended from the mounting bracket utilizing an S- hook like member 37 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. More particularly, link member 37 may be molded as a folded ribbon or band of a rigid plastic such as polycarbonate (Lexan) or of metal in the form shown in FIGS. and 6. The hook ends 38, 39 thereof may then be inserted through a slot2l of the bracket 11 and motor housing slot 36, respectively to provide for suspension of the vibratory motor assembly as shown in FIG. 2.

A cylindrical pulley 41 is secured to each of the motor axle shafts 28 as by means of a set screw 42. Pulleys 41 are provided with a skirt 43 closing off housing hub caps 32. Pulleys 41 are also provided with axially projecting eccentrically disposed crank pins 44 which generally are disposed in 180 rotated relation. Crank pins 44 include an enlarged head 46 disposed outwardly from pulley 41 eaving a free portion of the crank pin exposed. 7

Massage belt attachment hooks 47 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are constructed of a length of non-corrosively plated steel spring wire or thin rod. One end of the wire is coiled several turns, e.g., three turns relatively tightly providing a collar portion 48 which fits in rotatable relation over the exposed shank of the crank pin while being retained by the large end head 46 thereon. The remainder of the length of wire is coiled in a relatively large open mouthed loop portion 49 with the free end folded over to provide a blunt end 51.

A massage belt 52 is formed of a length, e.g., of flexible vinyl plastic or the like with the ends folded back and secured as by heat and pressure bonding providing loops 53which can be slipped over the blunt ends of the loop 4? of books 47.

For use an appropriate door is employed. The door panel is opened partially so that the flanged end of the bracket may be inserted through the crack thereby provided between the door panel and door jamb at the hinged side of the door. On closing the door panel, the wider flanged end of the bracket is secured when the door is closed and latched as described in the foregoing. Marring of the door surfaces is minimized when the indicated polycarbonate molded bracket is used. Metal with an adherent plastic covering might also be used.

Hook end 38 of S-hook 37 attached to motor housing rib by means of hook end 39 may now be inserted through the lowermost slot 21 ,in bracket plate 18 to suspend the vibratory motor assembly from r the bracket. Attachment of the belt now places the device in operating condition. i

It will be seen that the present invention accomplishes all of theobjects that are attributable thereto. The massager can be used with either left hand or right hand opening doors since the bracket is reversible. Of

significant importance the necessity for massive pedestals and the like is eliminated without losing the bene-,

fits. Moreover, the height of the massager is easily ad i justed merely by moving the bracketup or down withi respect to the door. The S-link connector facilitates proper operation by providing some flexibility while minimizing torque on the bracketwhen the motor assembly is hanging downward. The insulated case also minimized the possibility of electrical shocks on contact.

While:the invention has been described in its preferred form, it is not to be limited to the details as set forth. except as may be necessitated by the appended 1 claims. 1

I claim:

1. A vibratory 'beltmassager for use inconnection with a door structure comprising a rigid mounting bracket. having a first end portion arranged to be engaged between the door panel and doorjamb of said door structure and a flange at said first end portion arranged to contact the re- 1 verse door side, and having a second end portion arranged for attachment of a suspensory link,

a vibratory motor assembly including an electrical motor having axially extending axle shafts and encased within a housing including structure for .at-

2. The belt massager as defined in claim 1 wherein I said bracket is of a molded polycarbonate resin construction and includes an end member with slot forattachment of said suspensory link.

3. The belt massager as. defined in claim 1 wherein said motor'housing comprises molded plastic halfshell I 7 portions having a reinforcing rib defining a slot for engagement with said suspensory link.

4. The belt massager of claim 3 wherein saissuspen-- I sory link comprises a polycarbonate ribbon S-hook i I link.

5. The belt massager of claim 3 wherein said motor )7 housing further includes molded hub caps through which said axles project.

6. The belt massager of claim 4 wherein said mas-' sagerbelt attachment means each comprises a coiled wire element having one end relatively tightly coiled to define a collar portion rotatably disposed on said crank pin and an enlarged coiled portion defining a hook for belt.

engaging said massage end of, 

1. A vibratory belt massager for use in connection with a door structure comprising a rigid mounting bracket having a first end portion arranged to be engaged between the door panel and door jamb of said door structure and a flange at said first end portion arranged to contact the reverse door side, and having a second end portion arranged for attachment of a suspensory link, a vibratory motor assembly including an electrical motor having axially extending axle shafts and encased within a housing including structure for attachment of suspensory link, a suspensory link member joining the second end of said bracket to said motor housing, pulleys carrying eccentrically disposed crank pinS secured to said motor axle shafts, massage belt attachment means rotatably mounted on the crank pins of said pulleys, and a massage belt attachable to said massage belt means.
 2. The belt massager as defined in claim 1 wherein said bracket is of a molded polycarbonate resin construction and includes an end member with slot for attachment of said suspensory link.
 3. The belt massager as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor housing comprises molded plastic half shell portions having a reinforcing rib defining a slot for engagement with said suspensory link.
 4. The belt massager of claim 3 wherein sais suspensory link comprises a polycarbonate ribbon S-hook link.
 5. The belt massager of claim 3 wherein said motor housing further includes molded hub caps through which said axles project.
 6. The belt massager of claim 4 wherein said massager belt attachment means each comprises a coiled wire element having one end relatively tightly coiled to define a collar portion rotatably disposed on said crank pin and an enlarged coiled portion defining a hook for engaging said massage belt. 